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Bassett Earns Top Rookie Honors in Hard Fought Fifth Place Finish

Release Prepared By: RACE22.com
Photo Courtesy Of: RACE22.com

Winston-Salem, NC(September 28, 2010) -- After week after week of bad luck continued to plague Ronnie Bassett in the UARA-STARS series a trip down to South Carolina for 150 laps around Greenville-Pickens Speedway brought about an uplifting for Bassett as he was able to drive his No. 04 Chevrolet to a fifth place finish garnering him the Rookie of the Race award.

Qualifying did not go exactly well for Bassett as he placed his car 13th on the starting grid for 150 laps and turned the race into a severe uphill battle in order to earn a good finish. At the start of the race Bassett knew that tire management would be critical to earning a good finish so he spent the majority first half of the race just rolling not really pushing his equipment too hard.
 

As the field approached halfway, Bassett began to make his moves to the front moving up into eighth by the time the caution came out on lap 90. It wasn't too long until Bassett hooked up with fellow rookie Robert Johnson and began to gain a few more positions moving into sixth with about 40 laps left in the race.

As the laps got closer to the end, Bassett found himself locked in a battle with Kyle Grissom for a spot in the top five, a battle he would eventually win earning himself his second top five of the season to go alongside a runner-up performance at Lonesome Pine Raceway earlier on in the season. Bassett was also able to gain points on Scott Turlington and Garrett Campbell who currently sixth and seventh in the series standings.

"To come from the 13th starting spot and get a top five felt great," said Bassett. "Greenville is definitely a different track then what I'm used to and while I know I wouldn't want to race here week to week, it's definitely a track I'd like to race at a few times a year."

Now Bassett has only one more shot to get a win in his rookie season as the UARA-STARS series will conclude their season in two weeks on the one-mile track at Rockingham Speedway on October 9th. Bassett also has extra incentive to get that first victory as he will be carrying the logo of the Buddy Walk, a foundation for raising money and awareness for Down Syndrome. Bassett has a younger brother who has been diagnosed with Down Syndrome making that cause and that foundation mean a lot to him and his family.

Bassett is supported by K-Guard Gutter Systems, Bassett Gutters and More, Marlowe Racing Chassis, BJM Racing, Billy Banks Racing Engines, Circle Racing Wheels and RACE22.com. For more information on Ronnie Bassett, Jr. visit his website at www.ronniebassettjr.com or contact RACE22 Driver Management at 276-613-4208.

About the Buddy Walk:
The Buddy Walk started in 1995 to celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness Month in October and since then has grown from 17 walks to more than 275 across the country and world in 2009. At least 250,000 people are expected to participate in over 280 events this year. For more information on this event please visit www.buddywalk.org